When Kirishima wakes up in the morning, the first thing he can feel is the throbbing sting in his arm, which makes him groan.

"Shut up we're all in pain," Bakugo growls, obviously half asleep, from the bunk below.

Being careful with his sore arm, Kiri rolls over so that he can hop down from the top bunk, which creaks when he jumps.

Bakugo lifts his pillow up, and shoves his head underneath it. In the process, Kiri sees the shining red marks, which causes another wave of guilt to come over him.

He gets changed, which is difficult with his arm in a makeshift cast and sling, but he manages it. Then he pads out of the cabin.

There aren't many people out, it must be about 6am, just the camp people and Aizawa. They're cooking on the camping sets, and Kiri can smell it.

"Bacon!" He exclaims excitedly when he gets there, peering into a pan. The lady grins.

"We figured you'd all want a good meal before the day started! You don't have to find food for yourselves any more, that was just one activity. But after this you will have to continue cooking for yourselves, with recipes of course."

Kirishima loads up his plate and starts digging into the bacon and eggs. Eventually, everyone else is drawn outside by the smell, and they respond with just as much enthusiasm.

"I've gotten way too used to Recovery Girl," Bakugo groans when he comes out. You can see his bandages underneath his shirt, wrapped around his chest and stomach. No one was badly hurt, just in a lot of pain.

No one except Kaminari that is.

Bakugo comes and sits down next to Kiri.

"How's your arm?" He asks.

"Eh, alright," Kiri responds awkwardly. "I hope the healing quirk person comes soon." Bakugo nods.

"Me too. It's weird without Pikachu around."

Kirishima looks up in surprise. He didnt think Bakugo even cared. He seemed to be scowling at the ground, not really present in the here and now.

"He'll be fine," Kiri tried to comfort Bakugo.

"He better be, or I'll trace him to hell just to kill him again."

Kirishima hums, not really wanting to think about Kaminari dying.

"You done?" Bakugo asks, nodding to his plate.

"Oh uh, yeah," he gets up to go wash up, but Bakugo takes it out of his hands.

"I'll do it, for you" Bakugo says, walking over to the washing up station.

Kirishima just stands there astounded. Was this Bakugo being nice to him? He looks over to Mina, who just grins at him. He sticks his tongue out and goes over to Mr Aizawa, where everyone is beginning to gather.

"We're going to be doing some combat training today. The schedule will consist of combat training every day, and other developmental activities in the afternoon. Bakugo and Kirishima are excempt from combat training due to their injuries, but the nurse is scheduled to be here by the afternoon activities.

Kirishima turned to Bakugo. If this was something they were gonna ignore, he better get right back into being friends.

"You wanna hang out in the cabin? I kinda wanna check on Kami."

"Sure," Bakugo grunted, as they trudged in the opposite direction of the rest of the group.

In the sun, their soulmarks flashed and glinted. They were mesmerising, and if the circumstances had been different, Kirishima would ask to sit down and look at them closer in the light.

But instead, he continued up the path, where a long, awkward wait awaited them.

~~~~

Bakugo knew Kirishima didn't get it. He was just hoping that he would get it. He didn't know how to deal with this.

But at least they were still hanging out. Kiri could have decided that he didn't want his soulmate, and just up and left. It does happen.

It happened to Deku's mum.

So instead, they were sitting in the cabin, silently watching their friend. His chest rose and fell slowly.

"You know what the worst part about this is?" He said suddenly, eyes still on Kami, but seeing Kirishima turn towards him from the corner of his vision.

"When he ran into the clearing, covered from head to toe in blood, he looked around, and the second he saw me, he looked relieved." He knew he was being vulnerable, but he had to get this off his chest.

"What could have possibly happened to him, that seeing me was a relief?"

He finally looked at Kiri, but he just laughed.

"You really don't understand do you? He was looking for you because you made him feel safe. You make all of us feel safe. Sure, you have a short temper, and you're a little violent, but when it comes down to it, if we need anyone to protect us, you're our first choice. You're strong Bakugo. Who else would he go to?"

They both look back forward and the silence resumes. Bakugo turns his hand and looks at his marks. He wished there was a mirror around, so that he could check his entire body, but they were out in the middle of the bush, and it was going to have to wait.

"Hey Shitty Hair- I mean- shit- never mind." He loses confidence halfway through his sentence. Kirishima glances at him, but looks back forward again almost immediately. He looks sad.

"Um, Kirishima." He looks at Bakugo again, but still doesn't turn his head.

"When all this is over, do you want to, maybe hang out?" Wow great job Katsuki, he thinks to himself.

"We hang out all the time Bakugo," Kirishima says flatly. Sad isn't quite the right word, Bakugo thinks, more just bored. He takes a deep breath.

"I was thinking more like... we go out to a cafe or something... just the two of us."

Kirishima looks back at the floor.

"No."

Bakugo's heart dropped into his stomach.

"Huh- Why not?!"

Kirishima turned his head towards him.

"I don't want your pity."

"What do you mean my pity!" He started raising his voice, and although he was feeling panicked, he knew that he probably just sounded angry.

"I mean you pretending that you're happy with me as your soulmate!" Kirishima snarled, baring his teeth, and the standing up. Bakugo had never seen him this riled up before.

"WELL IM SORRY. I THOUGHT THIS WOULD ALL HAPPEN WHEN I WAS OLDER AND DOING HERO WORK." He stood up to meet his gaze.

"Yeah well good on you." Kirishima scowled. "I'm sorry that you didn't get the romantic image that you thought you would get. Holding a pretty civilian, all battered and bruised, having just saved her from some terrible incident, her thanking you for her life and oh? What's this? You're soulmates? You must have been pretty disappointed when you ended up with me instead."

"I WAS JUST SURPRISED."

"You know what Bakugo? When I found out yesterday, I was actually glad that you were my soulmate. I thought we could be happy together. I was wrong, obviously."

He turns around and starts walking out of the cabin.

"KIRISHIMA," Bakugo yelled in a last ditch effort to get him to stay.

"Congratulations, you know my name," Kirishima spat without even looking behind him. The amount of hate in his voice made Bakugo's insides twist.

Bakugo had never seen Kirishima like this. He was always happy-go-lucky and optimistic. Not angry and vile. That was Bakugo's job.

He'd mucked it all up. This was definitely Bakugo's fault. He'd upset Kirishima.

And he had no idea how to fix it.

✨✨

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